Brief History of wine
Wine is a moderately alcoholic beverage made from the juice of fresh, ripe grapes. Throughout history, people have used wine to complement meals and to celebrate joyful occasions. The early Greeks used wine as a medicine, and today physicians believe wine can aid digestion and help relieve tension. Wine also plays an important part in the religious services of many faiths.
Wine of the Times :Old to New
Prehistoric humans grew grapes and may have used wine because grape juice turns naturally into the beverage. The earliest references to wine include those found in the hieroglyphics of the ancient Egyptians who lived 5000 years ago. The Chinese made wine some time before 2000 A.D.
Wine spread along with civilization from the Near East to Europe. Historians believe wine-making had begun throughout Western Europe by the 50's B.C. During the period from A.D. 500-1400, Europe became the wine center of the world.
During the 1500's, Spanish adventurers brought European grapevines to Mexico. By the late 1700's, Franciscan missionaries had carried the European species into what is now California. |
